VirtualBox has no standalone “virtual switch” object. The closest equivalent is a host-only network, which you create in Network Manager and then attach to each VM’s network adapter. The VMs on it can talk to each other and to the host, but not directly to the outside world. If you need something else, such as internet access or a VM-only network, pick a different mode (compared below).
Which VirtualBox network type matches what you want
The Oracle VirtualBox manuals describe network modes and managed networks, not a product called a virtual switch. Choose by what the VMs must reach:
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| Mode | Guest-to-guest | Host access | Outside access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Host-only network | Yes | Yes, through a host interface | No direct connection through a physical interface |
| NAT network | Yes | Not its purpose | Yes, through VirtualBox’s NAT service |
| Internal network | Yes | No | No |
The rest of this guide covers host-only networks, which is what most people mean by a private switch shared between the host and VMs.
Create a host-only network in the GUI
Menu wording varies by VirtualBox release and host OS. The VirtualBox 7.2.2 manual says to open Network Manager from the Network tool or from File > Tools > Network Manager. The 7.1.2 manual documents the creation step explicitly.
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- Open Network Manager and select the Host-Only Networks tab.
- Click Create to add a host-only network.
- Select the new network. Use its Adapter properties for the host-side interface and its DHCP Server properties for address assignment.
Attach each VM to the network
Creating the network does not connect any VM to it. Repeat these steps for every VM that should join:
- Select the VM and open Settings > Network.
- Choose an Adapter tab (Adapter 1, 2 and so on).
- Make sure Enable Network Adapter is ticked.
- Set Attached To to Host-Only Adapter and, if offered, select the network you created.
The command-line equivalent in the 7.2.2 manual is:
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VBoxManage modifyvm VM-name --nicN=hostonly --host-only-adapterN=interface-name
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Replace VM-name, the adapter number N and interface-name with the values on your installation. Run it while the VM is powered off.
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Create the host interface from the command line
The VBoxManage reference documents VBoxManage hostonlyif create, which creates a host-only network interface on the host. The reference says this must be done before VMs can attach to the host-only network. Use the interface name the command returns when you configure the VM’s attachment.
Addressing: DHCP or static
VirtualBox includes a DHCP server for host-only networking. In the Oracle VirtualBox User Guide (7.1.2, Host-Only Networks section): “The DHCP server is built into Oracle VirtualBox and manages IP addresses for the network automatically.” Configure it on the DHCP Server properties of the network in Network Manager.
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If you disable DHCP, assign static addresses inside each guest. Put them in the same subnet as the host-side adapter, and do not reuse the host interface’s own address.
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The 7.2.2 manual says Linux and macOS hosts restrict host-only interface addresses by default to the IPv4 range 192.168.56.0/21. For IPv6 they allow link-local addresses only. To permit other ranges, the manual points to the /etc/vbox/networks.conf file. Check the manual for your installed version for the exact syntax before editing it. These restrictions are documented for Linux and macOS hosts, so don’t assume Windows behaves the same way.
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If guests also need internet access
A host-only adapter alone gives no outbound path. A common approach is to give the VM a second adapter set to NAT (or use a NAT network if guests should also reach each other). Keep the host-only adapter for host-to-guest traffic.
This guide is based on the official VirtualBox 7.1.x and 7.2.2 manuals. The latest release may use different labels, so check the manual for your installed version if a menu doesn’t match.
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